Answering the questions of longtime fans and newcomers alike: dansko pros share their secrets to fitting and care  

dansko is an American comfort shoe brand designed with foot health in mind. Its appeal lies in both its wearing comfort and how easily it pairs with everyday fashion. At first glance, the distinctive shape and substantial leather may give the impression of being "heavy" or "stiff," but once you find the right size for your own foot, you'll discover an overwhelmingly comfortable fit that puts little strain on your feet even after hours of walking or standing.

dansko has a devoted following around the world. This time, we focus on the brand's signature Professional series, exploring everything from choosing the right size to tips for wearing them for years to come, together with the team at the brand shop "dansko en...".

Comfort shoes you truly understand once you've worn them

dansko was founded in Pennsylvania, USA. Though it's a relatively young brand, having started in 1990, it has earned a loyal following both in the United States and around the world. The story began when the founder, a horse trainer, traveled to his ancestral homeland of Denmark to buy horses and discovered clogs there. Captivated by their comfort, he used them as inspiration, refining the design again and again until dansko was born. Among its offerings, the signature Professional series is a comfort shoe characterized by a rounded toe and thick sole.

Professional Black Oiled

One ZUTTO staff member is also a devoted Professional wearer.

"Because of my job, I carry my laptop in a backpack almost every day, and if I pair that with sneakers, I end up looking a bit like a schoolkid. Rainy days, when I can't wear pumps, were always a struggle. But when I wear the Professional, the moderate heel softens the casual impression, giving me a look that lands somewhere perfectly between high heels and sneakers—I really love that." This staff member had been eyeing the shoes ever since wearing them for a product photoshoot, and finally got a pair six months ago. Once she started actually wearing them, she found herself thinking, "Why didn't I buy these sooner?"—they turned out to be remarkably easy to coordinate with her outfits.

With its quality leather, moderate heel, and covered toe that lends a touch of formality, the Professional is a shoe that can dial back the casualness of an everyday outfit with just one addition. That's one of the Professional's greatest appeals.

Choosing the right size for the Professional: your questions answered

The Professional is packed with the qualities that make dansko so appealing, but when it comes time to actually choose a pair, a question naturally arises: should I select my size the same way I would for shoes I usually wear? To clear up this question, we visited "dansko en..." to ask about fitting.

The dansko shop "dansko en..." in Minami-Aoyama

◆Being fitted: ZUTTO staff member U, choosing dansko shoes for the first time. Normally wears a size 23.5cm in sneakers and 23cm in pumps or boots.

◆Sharing insights: Mochizuki-san of "dansko en..."

A devoted Professional wearer who owns no fewer than five pairs of the same style, which she rotates through daily. She explains that dansko leather shoes have an easy, effortless quality—you simply slip your foot in without needing to bend down—and that even after standing all day serving customers at the shop, she never feels tired.

When choosing dansko shoes, what matters isn't just the length of your foot (actual measurement*) but whether "the highest point of your instep fits snugly against the shoe." Whether the fit is correct depends on whether the instep feels neither too tight nor too loose.

*The actual measurement refers to the length from heel to toe. You can measure this at home by standing on a sheet of paper and marking the furthest points of your heel and toe. Once you know your actual measurement, use the chart below as a reference for choosing your size.

22.5-23cm = EU size 35 (not available at ZUTTO) 

23-23.5cm = EU size 36

23.5-24cm = EU size 37

24-24.5cm = EU size 38

With dansko, the fit around the instep matters most

Yes, that's fine. It's actually better if your toes have some room to move inside the shoe. Shoes are designed with a bit of extra space at the toe called "sute-sun." Having this allowance means less strain on your feet when wearing them.

A typical pump is designed so that the heel fits snugly inward, hugging the back of the foot closely. Dansko, however, is built so that the heel sits perpendicular to the sole. Because of this, the heel moves up and down a bit as you walk, but as long as the toe box (the "kou," or upper part of the foot) fits well, there's no problem. Rather than being held in place by the heel, the idea is to fit the shoe to the upper part of the foot. Why don't you try the 36, one size up?

With the size up, there's noticeably loose space around the upper part of the foot. This is a sign that the size is too big.

It's better to fit to the upper rather than to your exact foot measurement, so for those with a high instep, we sometimes recommend going up one size. The key point is whether the upper feels too tight or too loose when you put the shoe on and walk in it. If you prefer thick socks, you'll also need to check whether the upper fits properly while wearing those socks.

Yes, that's right. Shall we also try the Ingrid series, which has a different last? The clog-type Ingrid comes with a strap, and you can wear it two ways: with the strap folded forward as a clog, or folded back like a sandal. Let's start by trying size 35, matching the Professional.

The Ingrid can be worn two ways depending on how you position the strap

The upper does fit perfectly, and yes, the heel does stick out a bit. Why don't you try folding the strap back and wearing it that way?

The strap has elastic built in, so it stretches, allowing for slight size adjustment. Since the upper fits properly at this size, size 35 is the right choice. If you went up a size, it would probably feel too big, just like with the Professional.

There is elastic behind the hardware, and since the strap has some stretch, slight size adjustment is possible.

Ingrid Black Oiled

Your maintenance questions, answered: how to make your shoes last

Three pairs of Professional. Left: worn for 2 years. Center: worn for 6 months. Right: brand new.

As we talked, one pair really caught our eye: the Professional (photo, left) that staff member Mochizuki-san has worn and loved. She bought them two years ago and has worn them often since, yet they're so well cared for that they have a beautiful sheen, almost like velvet.

Dansko shoes are already highly durable thanks to their oiled leather, but regular care helps keep them looking beautiful while extending their wearable life even further. So, we decided to take the opportunity to give some care to a pair of Professionals that another ZUTTO staff member had worn for six months without any maintenance at all.

The Professional before care.
The surface has taken on an overall whitish cast, and wrinkles have become more noticeable. Oiled leather contains a lot of oil, which means it tends to attract dust more easily. The whitish appearance is thought to be from dust and dirt that has settled on the surface. The noticeable wrinkles, meanwhile, are caused by dryness. By adding oil to oiled leather on a regular basis, you can bring back its glossy shine.

For this session, we were shown an actual maintenance method using the following care items.

・A shoe brush with hog bristles
・Leather oil for cleaning, water-repelling, and moisturizing
・A soft cloth

The maintenance item used this time was dansko's own OILED LEATHER RESTORER

① Brushing

First, use a shoe brush with firm hog bristles to remove not only surface dirt but also dirt that has settled into grooves like the stitching. Brush rhythmically with enough pressure to make a light swishing sound. For the upper, alternate the direction of the brushing, from the instep toward the toe and from the toe back toward the instep, and turn the brush sideways at the seam where the upper meets the sole. Don't forget the back of the heel either — brush the entire shoe carefully.

If you don't have a brush, you can wring out a soft cloth dampened with water and wipe down the entire shoe to remove dirt.

Slipping a hand inside the shoe helps hold it steady. Mochizuki-san brushed briskly and efficiently, and just this step alone removed a lot of the whitish grime.

② Leather oil for cleaning, water-repelling, and moisturizing

If you're using your own leather oil, first test it on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it doesn't cause discoloration. Take an amount of leather oil about the size of a 100-yen coin onto a cloth, then work it carefully into the leather. If you run out, add a little more at a time and blend it in over the whole surface. Once you've finished applying it, it's best to let the shoes rest for about half a day in a shaded, well-ventilated spot.

③ Final brushing

Once the break is over, it's time for the finishing brushing. Brushing the whole shoe again with the same shoe brush helps spread the leather oil evenly, even into the small, hard-to-reach areas.

And with that, the basic care is complete. The difference compared to shoes that haven't been cared for is so obvious you might just blurt out, "Wow, they're beautiful!" (Below, the left photo shows the shoe after care, and the right shows it before care.)

The whitish film is gone, the wrinkles are less noticeable, and you can see how the shoe has taken the shape of the foot. For daily care after wearing, ①brushing is enough. It's said that the full maintenance routine of ①through③ should be done about once a month. Once you see how vividly the leather revives, taking care of your shoes becomes enjoyable, doesn't it?

Other things you might be curious about

What's the best way to care for the sole or insole?

For the outsole, we recommend wiping it with a damp cloth. Since the insole can't be replaced, the basic rule is to give the shoes a day of rest after wearing them for a day, to prevent moisture from building up.

Can I wear them on rainy days? Do they need any special care afterward?

Water-repellent oiled leather can be worn even on rainy days. But once you're done wearing them, be sure to give them some care.

The first and most important step is to let them dry thoroughly. Place them somewhere well-ventilated and dry both the outside and inside completely. Using a commercially available shoe drying agent is also a good idea. To bring back the shine, follow the care steps 1 through 3 above once the shoes are dry.

Person interviewed: Mochizuki-san of "dansko en..."

▼dansko Professional

▼dansko Ingrid

▼You'll find shoe care items here